Cooking Tips

How to Teach a Cat Not to Scratch Home Furniture?

A cat that scratches is a cat that was not taught as a kitten that scratching was unacceptable. If your cat is scratching whenever you try to play with him you need to learn how to teach your cat not to scratch.

One of the ways how to teach a cat not to scratch your home furniture is to simply show him that you won’t play with him when he scratches. If you are playing with him and he scratches you tell him “no” firmly and then ignore him until he calms down. Once he settles down you can resume playing as long as he continues to behave and does not scratch.

Another way how to teach a cat not to scratch is by playing dead. If he scratches your hand or foot because it is moving then immediately hold it still, not moving it at all. His attention will soon turn to something else. Do this consistently and he will soon learn that it is no fun to scratch at you.

Giving your cat a good squirt or water from a clean spray bottle is another good way how to train a cat not to scratch. Cats don’t like being squirted with water and he will soon learn to associated getting sprayed with his scratching.

In cases where the cat is scratching at the furniture and not you, giving him a scratching post and awarding him whenever he uses it will encourage him to use the post instead of your furniture. If you combine the reward for using the post with a negative reward when he scratches the furniture he will soon choose to the post and get the positive reward.

Note: Using a negative reward to teach a cat not to scratch furniture can include a Spitz with clean water or placing tinfoil which cats don’t like around your furniture legs until he learns to use his scratching post.